Soapweed
Well-known member
KSDZ Radio from Gordon, Nebraska, sponsored a Valentine Poetry Contest in 1983, the winner getting a night on the town. As I recall, the winner got a steak and lobster supper for two, and a limo ride to the local movie theatre. This was my entry at the time, and needless to say, it didn't win.
An Appropriate Valentine
Driving along with the radio on,
I heard the announcer say,
"Have we ever got a deal for you!
For this upcoming Valentine's Day."
Our radio station is giving a prize—
A night on the town with frills.
You and your sweetie get the good time.
KSDZ pays the bills.
As you can imagine, this perked up my ears—
Really sounded good to me.
The best part of it all, of course,
Was the simple fact, it was free.
But then the tricky part set in,
For it was to be a contest.
Every entrant was to write a poem.
Judges would pick the one that was best.
So now I am sitting here wondering
Just what in the world to write.
As slow as I am at something like this
The job could take all night.
It's supposed to be a love poem, they say,
About your lover true.
But how to say a lot of "mush"
Has got me in a stew.
I have a lot of love in my heart
'Cause it sure doesn't come out too often.
I'm supposed to be a tough cowboy, you see,
And they're not supposed to soften.
But my little blonde wife is sure sweet to me.
Really I should reciprocate.
But on paper, for the world to see? That's hard
For a bow-legged reprobate!
She is always so nice to me
And cheerful all the time.
Why right now, across the table, she's helping
To think up words that rhyme.
She helps outside with the cattle
And does the cooking, too.
Always in the right place at the right time
She knows exactly what to do.
She can ride a horse with the best of them
And drive a tractor fine
And when she's teaching Sunday School
Her face has a Special Shine.
Yessir! The smartest thing I ever did
Was to put my ring on her finger.
I'm really a very lucky guy
'Cause she is sure a humdinger!
Another one of her attributes
Is 20-20 foresight.
She said, "One of these days we're going to get old.
Don't you see I'm right?"
I said, "I reckon so,
But what do you propose we do?"
She said, "Well, I've been thinking
We should have a kid or two."
What could I say except to agree?
It was a logical thought.
And after the wait of a little while
Guess what the big stork brought.
Yes, we have the cutest little boy,
Tiny though he was,
But a handsome little feller
Nearly bald except for fuzz.
So now with our new baby
We're happy as can be.
And at Christmas time, extra gifts for him
Were underneath the tree.
As Valentine's Day rolls around, I'm wondering
What to get my wife.
I have an idea but there's a chance
That it could cause some strife.
For years she has wanted a milk cow.
I keep saying, "Someday….maybe."
I think I know who'd milk the cow.
It wouldn't be her or our baby.
But if I happened to win this contest
She just might let me by
With a night on the town, and supper
Of steak, lobster and pie.
Soapweed
February 1983
An Appropriate Valentine
Driving along with the radio on,
I heard the announcer say,
"Have we ever got a deal for you!
For this upcoming Valentine's Day."
Our radio station is giving a prize—
A night on the town with frills.
You and your sweetie get the good time.
KSDZ pays the bills.
As you can imagine, this perked up my ears—
Really sounded good to me.
The best part of it all, of course,
Was the simple fact, it was free.
But then the tricky part set in,
For it was to be a contest.
Every entrant was to write a poem.
Judges would pick the one that was best.
So now I am sitting here wondering
Just what in the world to write.
As slow as I am at something like this
The job could take all night.
It's supposed to be a love poem, they say,
About your lover true.
But how to say a lot of "mush"
Has got me in a stew.
I have a lot of love in my heart
'Cause it sure doesn't come out too often.
I'm supposed to be a tough cowboy, you see,
And they're not supposed to soften.
But my little blonde wife is sure sweet to me.
Really I should reciprocate.
But on paper, for the world to see? That's hard
For a bow-legged reprobate!
She is always so nice to me
And cheerful all the time.
Why right now, across the table, she's helping
To think up words that rhyme.
She helps outside with the cattle
And does the cooking, too.
Always in the right place at the right time
She knows exactly what to do.
She can ride a horse with the best of them
And drive a tractor fine
And when she's teaching Sunday School
Her face has a Special Shine.
Yessir! The smartest thing I ever did
Was to put my ring on her finger.
I'm really a very lucky guy
'Cause she is sure a humdinger!
Another one of her attributes
Is 20-20 foresight.
She said, "One of these days we're going to get old.
Don't you see I'm right?"
I said, "I reckon so,
But what do you propose we do?"
She said, "Well, I've been thinking
We should have a kid or two."
What could I say except to agree?
It was a logical thought.
And after the wait of a little while
Guess what the big stork brought.
Yes, we have the cutest little boy,
Tiny though he was,
But a handsome little feller
Nearly bald except for fuzz.
So now with our new baby
We're happy as can be.
And at Christmas time, extra gifts for him
Were underneath the tree.
As Valentine's Day rolls around, I'm wondering
What to get my wife.
I have an idea but there's a chance
That it could cause some strife.
For years she has wanted a milk cow.
I keep saying, "Someday….maybe."
I think I know who'd milk the cow.
It wouldn't be her or our baby.
But if I happened to win this contest
She just might let me by
With a night on the town, and supper
Of steak, lobster and pie.
Soapweed
February 1983
